help with mobility car and multiple disabled children

I'd use the money to buy a car it's essentially for the kids and family to get around. I know you can buy a mobility car rather than leasing but I think the upfront fees are high.

Does your child have a social worker you could check with? Or an advice worker at the school?

this is intended to stop people taking advantage of the scheme and monopolising the motability car without benefiting the entitled person. It’s not about the family car.

Stop at a shop on the way home. Use the car so you will be back in time to meet him off the bus etc.
It isn’t you they are trying to catch out.

I didn't read properly I see you appealed that awful and so discrumatory.

That's terrible have you been refused can you appeal? I know in the grand scheme of things and your life an appeal might be too much to do but I don't see how a severely autistic child can be seen as having an invisible disability!

I had a mobility car that dh used for work this was allowed and we used it as a family car we did ask what was permissable at the time, although it's been decades so rules may have changed.

Using the car means you would be able to respond much more quickly if your other child needs you than you would on public transport. I have a motability vehicle for my little one and I have my own car but only because I don't want to be parking his vehicle up in a non blue badge space when he's not with me (He has a VW Crafter and it is huge) but the disadvantage is if he's unwell at school I have to go home to collect his car before I can go and get him.

Phone Motability and talk it over with them.

Get the motorbility car OP. It sounds like it would really help your family. No one will be checking on your usual journeys.

When did you apply? The rules changed in 2019 so that some of us with invisible disabilities could qualify.

I've had multiple Motability cars over the years for my DD from when she was 5. I used it as my main family car. No one ever queried it. If I'd needed to justify it I would have just said that I was on 24/7 call for DD and it would not be beneficial if I had to return home to get 'her' car first.

I think Motability tightened the published rules years ago when it was found that some people were effectively giving their cars to family members who lived at other addresses. But I know lots of people with Motability vehicles and they have all used them as family cars.

The rules surrounding use of motability cars are different when the car is for a child as it can be used as the family car.

Actually it is allowed very similar thread a couple of weeks ago with people giving out wrong info all.over the place mobility don't expect you to mess aroun d on buses when there is a car at your disposal.

We use it as our family car ,most people do they expect you to.

Just use it as your family car, there isn't anyone checking up where you have been, as long as you don't do over 20k miles a year you have no worries. The rules you are worrying about are more for blue badge use.

Get the car and on the way home from a hospital appointment so the food shopping or get the prescriptions for your "most" disabled kiddo. That journey still begets them. I've had a notability car for 9 years and nobody has ever checked or asked about my journeys. Not even when I've had a minor bump .

You use the car. What benefits you, benefits your children. There are people driving motability cars that don’t even live at the same address as the disabled person. As long as the car is used for the benefit of the disabled person it doesn’t matter what else you’re using it for (with the exception of using it as a taxi or other business).

Did your son not get 10 or more points for Planning and following a journey? (Usually given if one is unable to do this unaided / would leave them in severe distress)

If so, that is automatic entitlement to a blue badge under govt rules.

It wasn't for my friends autistic daughter. I know a few people who don't qualify even though they have enhanced mobility on PIP

It is fine to use the car for hospital appointments for 2nd dc.
Motability would not deny a claim under the insurance in these circumstances.
The website specifically states:
Your vehicle needs to be used by the disabled customer or for their benefit.
This does not mean they need to be in the vehicle for every journey.

It means other drivers in the same home can use the vehicle for:

• Shopping
• Visiting family
• Other routine activities

I worked in the claims department for many years and a claim would never be refuted on this basis!

There’s lots of people on here saying they just use it as a family car, “who will know”, but the reality (and legally where you stand) is that doing that is NOT allowed. Yes, you might be absolutely fine and never get caught doing that, but if you are to be caught then you are in trouble and I know of 2 people personally who have been caught out with this. I wouldn’t risk it myself.

But doesn't it work out at costing you over £300 a month.

You have a car already so must be paying maintainable, tax and insurance anyway.

You could probably easily get a lease deal, pay for the tax, service, maintainence and insurance for not much more than you will lose in PIP.